SB 1522 Hawaii Senate · 2025 Regular Session

RELATING TO VEHICLE TITLE TRANSFERS.

Summary

Clarifies that proof that a transferor has filed required notice forms with the County Director of Finance serves as a complete defense to any action brought against the transferor for an act or omission, civil or criminal, arising from the use, operation, or abandonment of the vehicle by another person. Requires, by 7/1/2026, the Judiciary to determine whether new forms or modification of the Judiciary's website is necessary to assist vehicle transferors and, if so, to create the forms or modify the website. (CD1)

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Apr 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Signed May 29, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

SB1522_HD1 → SB1522_HD2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill updates Hawaii's vehicle title transfer laws to clarify liability protections for transferors, establish new notice requirements for non-dealer transfers, and require the Judiciary to create forms or modify its website by July 1, 2026, to assist vehicle transferors. The changes aim to reduce legal risks for people selling or transferring vehicles and streamline the administrative process.

Scope change

The bill expands liability protections to all transferors (not just dealers) and adds specific requirements for charitable donations of vehicles.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new requirement for non-dealers to notify the director of finance within ten days of transferring a vehicle, with a $100 fine for violations.

Added specific provisions for licensed dealers to be relieved of civil liability once they forward properly endorsed certificates and obtain written authorization from the transferee.

ENFORCEMENT

Added complete defense provisions that protect transferors from liability for vehicle use, operation, or abandonment by the transferee once proper notice is filed with the director of finance.

ELIGIBILITY

Added a provision deeming charitable organizations that receive donated vehicles as transferees subject to all applicable rights, responsibilities, and liabilities.

TIMELINE

Requires the Judiciary to determine by July 1, 2026, whether new forms or website modifications are needed to assist vehicle transferors, and to implement them if necessary.

DEFINITION

Added a new subsection clarifying that transfer by operation of law (inheritance, bankruptcy, etc.) requires specific signatures by personal representatives or trustees instead of the original owner.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 30, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Final Reading as amended in CD 1 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran, Pierick excused (2).

lower

Apr 30, 2025

Upper · Passed

Passed Final Reading, as amended (CD 1). Ayes, 25; Aye(s) with reservations: none . 0 No(es): none. 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee (Conf Com. Rep. No. 96) as amended in (CD 1).

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Introduced

48 Hrs. Notice (as amended CD 1) 04-30-25.

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported from Conference Committee as amended CD 1 (Conf. Com. Rep. No. 96).

upper

Apr 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

The Conference Committee recommends that the measure be Passed, with Amendments. The votes were as follows: 3 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Tarnas, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 0 Excused: none.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

The Conference committee recommends that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes of the Senate Conference Managers were as follows: 3 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Rhoads, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 0 Excused: none.

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-24-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting to reconvene on 04-23-25 10:30AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 21, 2025

Upper · Passed

Conference committee meeting scheduled for 04-22-25 10:35AM; Conference Room 329.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Amended

Senate disagrees with House amendments.

upper

Apr 8, 2025

Introduced

Received from House (Hse. Com. No. 616).

upper

Apr 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Passed Third Reading as amended in HD 2 with none voting aye with reservations; none voting no (0) and Representative(s) Cochran excused (1). Transmitted to Senate.

lower

Mar 28, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on JHA recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 10 Ayes: Representative(s) Tarnas, Poepoe, Belatti, Hashem, Kahaloa, Perruso, Takayama, Todd, Garcia, Shimizu; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 1 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran.

lower

Mar 18, 2025

Committee

Reported from TRN (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1321) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to JHA.

lower

Mar 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

The committee on TRN recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 6 Ayes: Representative(s) Kila, Grandinetti, Evslin, Kitagawa, Miyake, Muraoka; Ayes with reservations: none; Noes: none; and 3 Excused: Representative(s) Cochran, La Chica, Pierick.

lower

Mar 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to TRN, JHA, referral sheet 18

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Introduced

Received from Senate (Sen. Com. No. 57).

lower

Feb 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

Report Adopted; Passed Third Reading. Ayes, 23; Aye(s) with reservations: none. Noes, 0 (none). Excused, 2 (Senator(s) Fukunaga, Kidani). Transmitted to House.

upper

Feb 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in JDC were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Rhoads, Chang, San Buenaventura, Awa; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Gabbard.

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on JDC will hold a public decision making on 02-20-25 10:01AM; CR 016 & Videoconference.

upper

Feb 11, 2025

Committee

Reported from TCA (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 260) with recommendation of passage on Second Reading and referral to JDC.

upper

Feb 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA recommend(s) that the measure be PASSED, UNAMENDED. The votes in TCA were as follows: 4 Aye(s): Senator(s) Lee, C., Elefante, Kanuha, DeCorte; Aye(s) with reservations: none ; 0 No(es): none; and 1 Excused: Senator(s) Inouye.

upper

Feb 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

The committee(s) on TCA has scheduled a public hearing on 02-06-25 3:00PM; Conference Room 224 & Videoconference.

upper

Jan 27, 2025

Committee

Referred to TCA, JDC.

upper

Jan 23, 2025

Introduced

Introduced and passed First Reading.

upper

Jan 22, 2025

Introduced

Pending Introduction.

upper

2 primary · 0 co-sponsors